UN secretary general says Syria attacks are an affront to humanity
The UN's failure to agree to a resolution on Syria is "disastrous" for the country's people, Ban Ki-moon has said today as President Assad's government launched its most intense bombardment of the city of Homs.
Speaking at the UN headquarters in New York, Ban said he had briefed the security council about a plan proposed by the head of the Arab League, Nabil al-Araby, for a possible joint UN-Arab League observer mission to Syria.
The statement issued by Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky, is the latest and one of the strongest UN condemnations of Syrian government tactics, said Ban was "appalled" by the mounting death toll.
"Such violence is totally unacceptable before humanity," it said.
"No government can commit such acts against its people without its legitimacy being eroded."
The statement said Ban "strongly condemns" the onslaught. The failure of the U.N. Security Council on Saturday to pass a resolution on Syria because of vetoes by Russia and China, "gives no license to the Syrian authorities to step up attacks on the Syrian population," it added.
"All violence must end immediately," the statement said.
"The Secretary-General reminds the government of Syria that it is accountable under international human rights law for all acts of violence perpetrated by its security forces against the civilian population."
Ban called for "an inclusive Syrian-led political process, in accordance with international law, that respects the will and legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people to a democratic and pluralistic political system."
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